Master Gardeners' Plant Sale returns to Manning on May 3-4
Master Gardener Ginny Honea holds one of many potted baskets that will be sold at the Master Gardeners' annual fundraiser May 3 and 4. Hyacinth bean vine, petunias and coleus, as well as numerous other flowers, citrus plants, heirloom tomato plants, etc., will be for sale.
MANNING - The azaleas are blooming, the wisteria is vibrant and folks are prepping their lawns for summer.
That means it's also time for the annual Master Gardeners' Plant Sale which will be held this year on Friday-Saturday, May 3 and 4, in the courtyard at the Land, Parker and Welch Law Firm at the corner of South Mill and Keitt streets. On Thursday, you can shop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday. It's best to arrive early to get the best selection.
"We planted plugs and seeds in February," Master Gardener Marie Land said. "We work closely with Coach Haynes and Mr. McDonald and the FFA students at Manning Junior High School and Manning High School."
This year the sale is featuring heirloom tomato plants and a variety of flowers that herald from Monticello, the Virginia home of Thomas Jefferson.
"We have more than 100 Cherokee and Brandywine tomato plants that will be for sale," Land added. "These wonderful heirloom plants originated at Monticello."
The Cherokee Tomato is sometimes referred to as the "black tomato" because of its unique dark, dusky purple color, Land said. "The large, highly flavorful fruits of the Cherokee Purple Tomato are smooth with slightly ridged shoulders. It's a disease-resistant, indeterminate variety that loves full sun."
According to Land, the Brandywine Tomato is considered "the most esteemed late-19th century heirloom tomato with potato-like leaves and large, meaty, reddish-pink fruit."
Beautiful petunias, coleus, agelino, begonias, potato vines, candelabra plants, hyacinth bean vines and dozens of "pass-along" plants from the Master Gardeners' gardens will be on sale.
For those who love to grow their own citrus, Stan McKenzie, the citrus man, will be on hand selling citrus plants and offering instructions on how best to keep them healthy.
"We feel like we all have a green thumb," Land said. "It's a lot of fun."
Land said that the funds from the plant sale are used throughout the year for beautification projects.
"The proceeds will go toward beautifying Manning, scholarships and other garden-related activities," Land added. "We enjoy spending time with the students who help us with this project."